What are you waiting for?

Here is the incredible good news of the gospel of grace in one verse: “For by one offering He (Jesus) has perfected forever those who are being sanctified” (Hebrews 10:14). It contains 3 powerful truths:

1. “For by one offering…” Jesus came as the perfect Lamb of God to offer Himself as the once and for all sacrifice for our sin (Hebrews 10:10). Because Jesus came as fully man and fully God, His sacrifice is a permanent and eternal sacrifice that never needs to be repeated.

2. “He has perfected forever…” Note the word “has”. It is a past tense. It’s already done! Those who trust in Jesus as Savior have already received complete forgiveness of sins and are declared righteous (perfected) forever in God’s eyes. This is very important. Although our actions are not always righteous and perfect; we still remain forgiven and are declared righteous (perfected) based on the position of righteousness placed upon us by God because of our faith in Christ. Our righteousness is a gift from God and does not come to us from our own efforts at being good or righteous; but because of our faith in Christ and His sacrifice for us. (Titus 3:5, Philippians 3:9, Ephesians 2:8).

3. “Those who are being sanctified…” Now note the tense of the word “being” sanctified. This is a present, on-going tense. “Being sanctified “means that God changes us from the inside out on an on-going basis after He has already declared us righteous! He saves us first because of our faith in Christ and then He changes (sanctifies) us afterward. “Religion” puts the cart before the horse. It usually tells you to make yourself clean through religious observances and good deeds, and then God will have mercy on you. This bases your salvation on your own righteousness instead of Christ’s. It is a serious mistake. In Isaiah 64:6 God says, “And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags…” We are declared righteous by God only when we receive the righteousness of Christ by faith, and faith alone.

The good news of the New Covenant of Grace is that it’s a “come as you are” invitation. Jesus simply says, “Come to Me” (Matthew 11:28). He doesn’t expect you to clean yourself up and do all kinds of religious things to make yourself acceptable to Him, because they won’t. It is only your faith in Him that pleases God (Hebrews 11:6). Jesus has already accomplished on the cross all that was needed for your salvation (Hebrews 10:14). He paid the whole price for your sin. Now He simply wants you to place your trust in Him; open your heart and invite Him in. If you do, He will come and live inside you (John 14:23), you will receive the free gift of eternal life that He offers you, and you will embark on this wild and glorious adventure of experiencing the living God in your life! There is nothing like it. It’s the reason you were created.